苏轼·《水调歌头》英译

Shui Diao Ge Tou

Su Shi

“When shall we have a bright moon?”

Holding up a wine cup I queried the Blue Heaven:

“Tell me, in the celestial palace up so high

What year in its annals is tonight.”

I’d like to ride the wind and go there

But was afraid it would be too cold up on high

In those sumptuous palaces and marble halls.

I rose to my feet and danced with my own shadow.

’Twas not too bad down here!

The moon turned round the vermilion penthouse,

Casting its beams down through the lattice windows

And shining on the sleepless.

It need not evoke sadness, you know,

But why is it always so bright when the loved one’s away?

We all have joys and sorrows, partings and reunions.

The moon, its phases of resplendence,

Waxings and wanings –

Nothing in this world is ever perfect.

I wish a long life to us all.

Then, however far apart we are

We’d still be sharing the same enchanting moonlight.

（龚景浩 译）

The Moon Festival

Shu Shi

On the Mid-Autumn Festival of the year Bingchen* I drank happily till dawn and wrote this in my cups while thinking of Ziyou

Bright moon, when was your birth?

Winecup in hand, I ask the deep blue sky;

Not knowing what year it is tonight

In those celestial palaces on high.

I long to fly back on the wind,

Yet dread those crystal towers, those courts of jade,

Freezing to death among those icy heights!

Instead I rise to dance with my pale shadow;

Better off, after all, in the world of men.

Rounding the red pavilion,

Stooping to look through gauze windows,

She shines on the sleepless.

The moon should know no sadness;

Why, then, is she always full when dear ones are parted?

For men the grief of parting, joy of reunion,

Just as the moon wanes and waxes, is bright or dim:

Always some flaw – and so it has been since of old.

My one wish for you, then, is long life

And a share in this loveliness far, far away!

* 1076

（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）

Drinking in the Mid-Autumn night, 1076

and thinking of my younger brother, Su Zhe

Su Shi

When did the moon begin to shine?

Lifting my cup I ask of Heaven.

I wonder in the heavenly palaces and castles

What season it is tonight.

I wish to go up there on the wind,

But am afraid the crystal domes and jade halls

Would be too cold on high.

So I dance with my limpid shadow

As if I were no longer on earth.

Around rich bowers,

Into sweet boudoirs,

Shining upon the sleepless.

The moon should have no regrets,

Why is she always at the full when men are separated?

Men have their woe and joy, parting and meeting;

The moon has her dimness and brightness, waxing and waning.

Never from of old has been lasting perfection.

I only wish that you and I may be ever well and hale,

That both of us may watch the fair moon, even a thousand miles apart.

（初大告 译）

Shuidiaogetou

Shu Shi

“How often comes a bright moon?”

I asked this of the blue sky.

I held up my drinking cup,

As I pled for a reply.

I wonder, this night of nights –

Is of what calendar year,

Above and beyond the clouds,

In what’s the celestial sphere.

I’d wish to ride on the wind,

To my blessed heavenly home,

With its marble halls and floors,

And its alabaster dome.

That would be magnificent.

But the cold I cannot stand.

To an earthling that I am,

It won’t be a happy land.

I prefer a cosy place,

Closer to the human heart,

As the shadow, in my dance,

Can play its intimate part.

There’s nothing in paradise,

That is of similar worth –

To living among mankind,

In this so-called mundane earth.

Soon moonlight will shift its place –

O’er the top of chambers red.

Through windows with their curtains.

To sleepless people, instead.

There shouldn’t be love or hatred –

Between mankind and the moon.

But why should it turn fully –

Upon those who’re to part soon?

The moon has weather that change,

Fine or foul; it wax and wane.

Mankind is sad at parting;

Happy at reunion again.

From the utmost ancient times,

Down to our own very days,

The imperfection of all things –

Has for ever been the case.

One can do no more than wish –

All people would keep going strong.

And though they are far apart,

They’d share moonlight well and long.

（徐忠杰 译）